Edo people came out on Saturday across the State to give their support to the All Progressives Congress Candidates at the State House of Assembly election partly following strong appeals in my previous articles.
From the result of the election, it is obvious that the Oracle has spoken. After many months of politicking, campaigns and preparations, the direction the nation is moving is now clear to all. Muhammadu Buhari remains our President for the next four years as Nigerians have spoken loud and clear and every Nigerian voter can congratulate ourselves for an election widely adjudged to be orderly, peaceful, free and fair except in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom where there were few issues.
In Edo State, it was observed in most cases that a particular political party was busy sharing money for voters to cast their votes for them. They shamelessly did that in almost all polling centres in Edo South and Edo Central. Only the gullible ones fell for them during the Presidential and National Assembly elections and the same politicians without shame were jubilation that they won. But this is open to contestation in court because these kind of characters cannot represent Edo people anywhere, not even at Abuja.
But Nigerians are moving to the next level with the victory of Buhari. We would be moving to the next level at the Federal, State and Local Government levels. Edo people are glad to see an end to the PDP in their lives because the PDP brought sorrow, pain, tears and blood.
Edo people are sick and tired of PDP and this is not the time for Edo people to begin to patronise an expired drug called People Deceive People. Edo people has come out to say a final no to their antics. They received the red card from Edo people on Saturday, March 9!
The train of Change is moving and Edo State cannot afford to jump out midway when they helped in bringing about the needed change. Edo State must be properly positioned to take its rightful place in the affairs of the Nigerian state. This is why most Edo people now believe that we cannot just afford to be in opposition. We cannot kick out an inept, corrupt and clueless government only to leave its dregs in Edo State.
As the PDP were going round to canvass support before the March 9 State Assembly elections, they told Edo people that they were going to take over Osadebey Avenue next year. What a dream! Our understanding is that they were plotting to use the Edo House of Assembly to achieve their selfish goal because everybody knows that there is no vacancy in Osadebey Avenue and if the PDP said they were going to take over Osadebey Avenue through this election, then it means that they planned to use the Edo House of Assembly to cause commotion in Edo State. But Edo people are wise enough to resist them and not allow a few self-centered PDP members who have ulterior motives to achieve their diabolic plans.
The PDP can never be trusted in Edo State. It was, therefore, wise on the part of the electorate to obliterate them out of the Edo Assembly. They cannot be entrusted with any seat in the Edo House of Assembly. The point being made here is that we appreciate Edo people for coming out on Saturday March 9 to give the PDP the red card at the Edo State House of Assembly election. It is obvious that Edo people are a set of the most enlightened people across the country today. We should continue to give this massive support to the All Progressives Congress (APC) so that we would not be left behind. Through this feat, we have shown to our performing Governor, Godwin Obaseki that we appreciate him. We have shown appreciation that he has worked so hard to develop our state and is not relenting to do more.
No doubt, there would have been a big danger to allow the PDP constitute any nuisance at the Edo State House of Assembly. They would have constituted a clog in the wheel of progress as was witnessed in the past and all Edo people suffered it when they constituted a splinter House of Assembly and were meeting outside during the era of Adams Oshiomhole. If given the slightest opportunity, they would constitute problems that could undermine the smooth development of the state which the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s government has been painstakingly implementing this past three years.
Most of us are glad that Edos expressed gratitude to Governor Obaseki and his party for their developmental efforts in the state. It shows that we have not forgotten where we were drenched by the rain (PDP) and where we are being sun-dried (APC). We must not forget the ruination the PDP foisted on Edo State from 1999 to 2008. When the whole country has spoken loudly to move to the next level, Edo cannot afford to be put on the reverse gear.
The issue here is not about Governor Obaseki, but about Edo people and our collective development. One cannot but say a big thank you to Edo voters for coming out to vote for APC candidates all the way on March 9. We rejoice with the newly elected Assembly men and are glad that we did not make the mistake of voting in crisis into the state Assembly. With this clear statement, Edos of today and generations yet unborn will have every course to rejoice as APC diligently implements its people-centered programmes that would change and uplift their lives for the better. Edo N’Uzonmon, Vba rue se!
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• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.
